Distribution apparatus



June 21, 1938. H. H. RUGG ET AL DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 50, 1935 INVENTORS Harold H Pzzgg and IT ESSES:

Paul 6 70/70 June 21, 1938. H. H. RUGG ET AL DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS Filed Oct. 30, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 {NVENTORS Hamid H E 219 and Pal/Z 5. ra/zam June 21, 1938. H. RUGG ET A| 2,121,610

DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS Filed Oct. 30, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WITNESSES: I INVENTORS Harold H EZ/gg and Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS sylvania Application October 30, 1935, Serial No. 47,448

10 Claims.

Our invention relates, generally, to distribution apparatus and, more particularly, to distribution switch-boards wherein automatic circuit breaker units are removably mounted in individual housings.

An object of our invention, generally stated, is to provide a means for mechanically inserting an automatic circuit breaker unit in and withdrawing the unit from a housing which shall be simple and efficient in operation and which may be economically manufactured.

A more specific object of our invention is to provide a combined levering and latching mechanism for moving a circuit breaker unit into and out of a housing and for retaining the breaker unit in its operative position Within the housing.

Another object of our invention is to prevent the circuit breaker unit from being moved into its operative position in the housing or removed from its operative position while the contact members of the circuit breaker are closed.

A further object of our invention is to provide for retaining a circuit breaker unit in an intermediate or test position within a housing.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a removable lever for operating the levering and latching mechanism for an automatic circuit breaker unit.

Still another object of our invention is to prevent the operating lever from being removed from the housing before a levering operation has been completed.

Other objects of our invention will be either explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

According to one embodiment of our invention, a circuit breaker unit is removably mounted in a metal housing and supporting structure. The breaker unit is supported by a pair of angle rails, one of which is secured to each side of the breaker frame, which slide into grooved steel bars, one of which is secured on each side of the housing. A combined levering and latching plate is pivotally mounted on each side of the housing. These plates are provided with slots which engage pins on the sides of the breaker frame to retain the breaker in the operative position until the plates are raised by a suitable operating lever to release the breaker. The plates are also so constructed that the breaker cannot be moved to the operative position in the housing until the plates are raised by the operating lever which functions to actuate the plates about their pivot points and to slide the breaker into, or remove it from, the operative position in the housing. Me-

chanical interlocks are provided which prevent the levering in device from being operated while the circuit breaker handle is in the closed or the intermediate automatic trip position, thereby preventing the circuit breaker from being moved to, or removed from, the operative position while the contact members of the breaker are closed. Additional interlocks are provided which prevent the operating lever from being removed from the housing before a levering operation has been completed.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of our invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyin drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, in perspective, showing a circuit breaker unit in the operative position in the housing, with the levering device in position to move the breaker to the test position in the housing;

Fig. 2 is a view, in perspective, showing the breaker in the test position, with the levering device in position for removal from the housing;

Fig. 3 is a similar view in perspective, showing the breaker in the full-out position, with the levering device in position to move the breaker into the housing to the operative position;

Fig. 4 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, of a breaker unit mounted in ahousing;

Fig. 5 is a view, in section, taken along the line V--V of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the structure, showing a part of the interlocking mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the distribution switchboard unit shown comprises a housing 10, a circuit breaker unit II, which is removably mounted in the housing, and a levering device I2 for moving the circuit breaker unit ll into and out of the housing ID. A number of units, such as the one shown, may be arranged in banks stacked vertically and horizontally to form a distribution switchboard having any desired number of individual units. The draw out feature for the circuit breaker unit herein described is particularly desirable, as it permits complete disconnection of a breaker unit from the bus bar structure, thereby permitting inspection of the breaker unit without deenergizin the main bus and without hazard to the inspector.

The housing I0 may be built of formed sheet metal or other suitable material. As shown, the housing consists of side panels I 3 and I4 and a bottom section l5. A front panel or door (not shown) may be attached to the housing by hinges or by spring clips in order that it may be readily removed from the housing. The rear of the housing unit may be left open in order that the primary disconnect contacts i6 of the circuit breaker unit may readily engage the bus bar structure H which is at the rear of the switchboard structure, as shown in Fig. 4. The auxiliary contact members 58 for the circuit breaker unit are also mounted at the rear of the switchboard structure.

The main contacts illustrated are of the blade and finger type, the bus bars I? constituting stationary blades mounted upon insulating cross bars Hi and the fingers l6 being carried by the circuit breaker unit. The auxiliary contacts H! are of the self-aligning finger type, the fingers 2! being mounted upon suitable supporting members 22 and disposed to engage contact plates 23 carried by the circuit breaker unit.

As shown in Fig. 4, when the circuit breaker unit I is in the operative position the main contact members |6 engage the bus bars IT and the auxiliary contact fingers 2| also engage the contact plates 23. When the circuit breaker is moved out to the test position, the main contact members l6 are disengaged from the bus bars ll, but the auxiliary contact fingers 2| still engage the contact plates 23, thereby permitting testing operations of the circuit breaker mechanism. When the breaker is moved to the fullout position, both the main contact members and the auxiliary contact members are disengaged.

The levering device I 2 is provided for inserting the breaker unit II from either the out or the test position to an in or operative position and for withdrawing the breaker unit from the operating position. The lever l2 comprises a pair of side bars 24 spaced by suitable cross members 25 and 26. The side members 24 may be of sufiicient length to provide a suitable operating lever for moving the circuit breaker into and out of the housing Hi. As shown, a notch 21 is provided near the end of each one of the side bars 24, thereby constituting a hook for engaging the circuit breaker unit, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Each side bar 24 is also provided with a vertically extending member 28 which is suitably braced to the bar 24 by a brace 29. A roller 3| is mounted at the top of each of the upright members 28. The cross member 26 is provided with a downwardly extending projection 32, the function of which will be described hereinafter.

In order that the circuit breaker unit may be slidably mounted in the housing In, a horizontally disposed grooved bar 33 is secured to the side panel |3 and a similar bar 34 is secured to the panel l4 for supporting the breaker unit in the housing. Stop pins 35 and 36 are provided on the bars 33 and 34, respectively, for stopping the outward movement of the circuit breaker unit. The stop pin 35 is carried by a plate 31 which is loosely mounted on top of the bar 33 by a suitable screw 38, and the pin 36 is carried by a similar plate 39 mounted on top of the bar 34. As shown the pins 35 and 36 extend through the top portion of the bars 33and 34 into the grooves provided in the bars.

With a view to controlling the movement of the circuit breaker into and out of the housing ID, a triangular latching plate 4| is pivotally mounted on each side of the housing I!) by a suitable screw 42. Each of the plates 4| is provided with a slot 43 which engages a screw 44 in the side of the housing to limit the movement of the plate about its pivot pin 42. A slot 45 is also provided in the lower edge of each plate for engaging a suitable pin 46 on the circuit breaker frame to retain the circuit breaker in the operative position in the housing.

As will be described more fully hereinafter, the front edges of the plates 4| are disposed to engage the pins 48 to prevent the circuit breaker unit being inserted into the housing past the test position until the plates 4| have been raised by the levering device l2. Suitable slots il and 48 are provided in the upper portion of the plates 4| for the rollers 3| on the levering device |2.

A projection 49 is also provided on each of the plates 4| which cooperates with a rectangular block 5| secured to each side of the housing a pre determined distance above the top edges of the plates 4|. As will be described more fully hereinafter, the blocks 5| are so disposed that the rollers 3| will not pass between the top of the plates 4| and the bottom of the blocks 5|, except when the plates are in their normal position, thereby preventing the lever 2 from being removed from the housing before a levering operation has been completed.

As shown in Fig. 5, an angle rail 52 is secured to each side of the breaker frame for supporting the breaker unit in the grooved bars on the sides of the housing ID. If desired, the levering pins 46 may be secured to the upper portion of the angle rails 52, as shown, or they may be secured to the breaker frame in any other suitable manner a short distance above the angle rails 52. The angle rails 52 and the grooved supporting bars 33 and 34 are located approximately midway between the top and the bottom of the unit.

The circuit breaker unit H is provided with a handle 53 for operating the circuit breaker contact members in a manner well known in the art. In the circuit breaker illustrated, the contact members are closed when the handle 53 is in its uppermost position. The circuit breaker contact members may be manually opened by lowering the handle 53 to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6. If the circuit breaker contact members are opened automatically by the overload-trip mechanism, the handle 53 is actuated to a mid position.

As shown in Fig. 6, an interlocking plate 54 is secured to the breaker handle 53 and is so disposed that it will interfere with the projection 32 on the levering device l2 to prevent the slots 2? in the side members 24 of the lever from engaging the pins 46 when the breaker handle 53 is in its uppermost position. The interlocking plate 54 will also prevent the lever |2 from engaging the circuit breaker unit when the handle 53 is in the intermediate or automatic trip position, but will not prevent the functioning of the levcring device when the handle is in its lowermost position, as shown by the dotted lines.

In this manner, the removal of the circuit breaker from its operative position while the contact members of the breaker are closed is prevented. The insertion of the breaker into the housing beyond the test position while the breaker handle 53 Bin either the closed or the automatic trip position is also prevented, since the levering device l2 cannot engage the levering pins 46 on the breaker unit to slide the breaker into the housing.

Assuming that the breaker handle 53 has been operated to its lowermost position to open the circuit breaker contact members, the breaker unit may be inserted into the housing i Elby lifting the unit to a position immediately in front of the housing and inserting the angle rails 52 in the grooved bars on the sides of the housing. It will be noted that the stop pins 35 and 36 are so beveled that they do not interfere with the insertion oi the angle rails into the grooved bars. The breaker unit may be pushed by hand into the housing as far as the test position where the front edges of the latching plates 4| will engage the pins 65 to prevent the further insertion of the breaker unit.

As shown in Fig. 3, the levering device [2 may be piaced in position to move the breaker into the housing to the operative position by placing the rollers 34 in the slots 4? in the latching plates 4! and hooking the side bars 24 over the levering pins on the sides of the breaker unit. A downward movement of the lever handle first raises the latching plates ii to remove the interference between the latching plates and the pins 46 by raising the plates 2. distance permitted by the slots 53 which engage the pins 44 in the side of the housing. A further downward movement of the lever i2 forces the circuit breaker unit into the housing to the operating position. Upon removal of the rollers 39 from the slots 4? the latching plates ii will drop to their normal position and the slots 25 will engage the pins 45 to lock the breaker securely in the operating position. When the latching plates 4| drop to their normal position, the rollers 3! will pass between the upper edge of the plates 4| and the blocks 5|, as previously described, and the lever |2 may be removed from the housing.

The breaker unit may be removed from the housing by practically reversing the foregoing operation. As shown in Fig. 1, the rollers 3| are inserted in the slots 48 in the latching plates 4| and the notches 2'? in the side members 24 engage the pins 4'6. Raising the lever handle presses the rollers 35 against the front faces of the latching plates Ali to raise these plates to a position in which the pins 46 are released from the slots 45 the lower edges of the plates. A further upward movement of the lever slides the breaker unit from the operating position to the test position where the stop pin 36 prevents further removal of the breaker unit until it is released.

The levering device l2 may then be removed from the housing 46, allowing the latching plates ii to drop to their normal position with the front edges of the plates engaging the levering pins 46, as shown Fig. 2. The breaker is now in the test position and, since the auxiliary contact members are still engaged as previously described, the breaker operating mechanism may be tested if desired.

Ihe stop pin 35 may be released by manually raising the plate 39 to permit the breaker unit to be withdrawn to the out position where the stop pin 35 on the supporting bar 33 will engage one of the angle rails 52 to prevent further withdrawal of the breaker unit from the housing. Complete withdrawal of the breaker unit from the housing is accomplished by raising the plate 3'5 to release the stop pin 35.

As described hereinbefore, the breaker unit cannot be moved from the test to the in position, or from the in to the test" position when the operating handle 53 of the breaker is in either the closed or the automatic trip position, since the interlock plate 54 prevents the use of the levering device l2 to release the latch.- ing plates 4| and move the breaker unit. The levering device l2 can be utilized only when the operating handle 53 is in its lowermost oif position.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that we have provided a switchboard unit of the draw-out type which occupies a relatively small amount of space and may be readily combined with similar units to form a complete switchboard of pleasing design and appearance. We have also provided a simple and inexpensive means for mechanically inserting a circuit break.- er unit into and withdrawing it from its housing and having the necessary interlocking features for the protection of the apparatus and the operator.

' Since many modifications may be made in the apparatus and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of our invention, we do not wish to be limited other than by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. Current distribution apparatus comprising a housing, a circuit breaker unit removably mounted in the housing, combined levering and latching plates pivotally mounted on the sides of the housing substantially parallel to said sides for controlling the movement of the breaker unit into and out of the housing, and means for limiting the movement or" said latching plates about their pivot points to cause the plates to act as fulcrums for levering the breaker unit into and out of the housing.

2. Current distribution apparatus comprising a housing, a circuit breaker unit slidably mounted in the housing, and combined levering and latching plates pivotally mounted on the sides of the housing, said plates having means disposed to engage the circuit breaker unit to control its movement into and out of the housing and additional means acting as fulcrums for levering the breaker unit into and out of the housing.

3. Current distribution apparatus comprising a housing, supporting bars on the sides of the housing, a circuit breaker unit slidably mounted in the housing on said bars, combined levering and latching plates pivotally mounted on the sides of the housing, said plates having notches disposed to engage the circuit breaker unit when in predetermined positions on said bars to control its movement into and out of the housing, and means disposed on said supporting bars to interrupt the outward movement of the breaker unit independently of said plates.

4. Current distribution apparatus comprising a housing, supporting bars on the sides of the housing, a circuit breaker unit slidably mounted in the housing on said bars, combined levering and latching plates pivotally mounted on the sides of the housing, said plates having notches disposed to engage the circuit breaker unit when in predetermined positions on said bars to control its movement into and out of the housing, and releasable means disposed on said supporting bars for stopping the outward movement of the breaker unit.

5. Current distribution apparatus comprising a housing, horizontally disposed supporting bars on the sides of the housing, a circuit breaker unit slidably mounted in the housing on said bars, combined levering and latching plates pivotally mounted on the sides of the housing, said plates having notches disposed to engage the circuit breaker unit when in predetermined positions on said bars to control its movement into and manually releasable out of the housing, and means disposed on said supporting bars for stopping the outward movement of the breaker unit at predetermined positions.

6. In current distribution apparatus, in combination, a housing, a circuit breaker unit removably mounted in the housing, combined levering and latching plates pivotally mounted on the sides of the housing to control the movement of the breaker unit into and out of the housing, and a levering device for engaging the breaker unit to actuate the latching plates about their pivot points, said levering device cooperating with the latching plates to move the breaker unit into and out of the housing.

7. In current distribution apparatus, in combination, a housing, a circuit breaker unit slidably mounted in the housing, combined levering and latching plates pivotally mounted on the sides of the housing to control the movement of the breaker unit into and out of the housing, and a removable levering device for engaging the breaker unit to actuate the latching plates about their pivot points, said levering device cooperating with the latching plates to slide the breaker unit into and out of the housing.

8. In current distribution apparatus, in combination, a housing, a circuit breaker unit slidably mounted in the housing, latching plates pivotally mounted on the sides of the housing to control the movement of the breaker unit into and out of the housing, a removable levering device for actuating the latching plates about their pivot points, said levering device cooperating with the latching plates to slide the breaker unit into and out of the housing, and interlocking means disposed in said housing to prevent the removal of the levering device except when the breaker unit is in predetermined positions in the housing.

9. In current distribution apparatus, in combination, a housing, a circuit breaker unit slidably mounted in the housing, an operating handle for the circuit breaker, a removable levering device for insertion into said housing to engage the breaker unit to slide it into and out of the housing, and interlocking means carried by the breaker handle and disposed to prevent the levering device from engaging the breaker unit under predetermined conditions.

10. In current distribution apparatus, in combination, a housing, a circuit breaker unit slid ably mounted in the housing, an operating handle for the circuit breaker, a removable levering de vice for insertion into said housing to engage the breaker unit to slide it into and out of the housing, and interlocking means carried by the breaker handle and disposed to interfere with the insertion of the levering device to prevent it from engaging the breaker unit except when the breaker handle is in the ofi position.

HAROLD H. RUGG. PAUL S. GRAHAM. 

